Maybe the Oakland Raiders have turned a corner. Or maybe it’s just the early-season bonanza of passing that veteran NFL QBs live to take advantage of.
In Weeks 1 through 4, offensive lines are fresh and not worn down. Receivers are less banged up, and defenses are still adjusting to new playbooks. Rookie QBs and bad offenses may still struggle. But for other teams, yards and points are coming easy…at least for now.
Derek Carr threw 60 passes in Week 2. If that’s all you knew about the result, you might think the Raiders were losing badly and desperate to catch up. But Carr completed an outstanding 45 throws for almost 500 yards as Oakland rolled over the New York Jets 45-20.
Oakland’s SNF opponent Washington won in Week 2 also, evening their record at 1-1. But compared to the Raider offense, the Redskins are a slow-moving tractor playing against a sports car. Can a home field and brave defense help hold off an aerial assault?
Who: Oakland Raiders at Washington Redskins
When: Sunday, September 24th, 8:30 PM EST
Where: Fed Ex Field, Landover, Maryland
Lines: Oakland (-3) at Washington (+3) / O/U Total: (54)
Washington head coach Jay Gruden is not known as an old-fashioned, power-running strategist. But despite injuries and a slow start in the passing game, one thing the Redskins are currently doing right is running the football.
Against the L.A. Rams in Week 2, Washington ran the ball 39 times for 229 yards. The ‘Skins finished the day with a crushing time-of-possession advantage of 36:19 to the Rams 23:41…and never turned the ball over while collecting 2 giveaways in a 27-20 road victory.
The Raiders have a hot QB and look to score 30-40 points a game against all but the best defenses in the league. But if they can’t stop a ball-control running attack, Derek Carr’s opportunities and field position will be limited.
Can Oakland man-up against the run better than their Cali counterparts? Playing on the road in Nashville in Week 1, the Raiders held the Titans to less than 100 yards rushing. The Jets fared slightly better the next week, rushing for 126, but leading NYJ RB Matt Forte only gained 53 yards in the contest.
And the Raiders can do some running of their own. The Silver & Black gobbled up nearly 200 yards on the ground and 3 rushing TDs against New York, and Marshawn Lynch appears to be rounding into form.
We’re thinking the Raiders will continue to make hay while the sun shines on offense. Late-season contests may bring injuries and a slower pace, but for right now, there’s no stopping Carr and a strong WR corps featuring Amari Cooper.
Take the Raiders to cover. The over is also a strong play here, since a 1st half explosion of scoring by Oakland could easily lead to a 60 or 70-point total as the teams open up.